By Roger Amsden
Union Leader
HOLDERNESS, N.H. — A man arrested for driving while intoxicated managed to jump behind the wheel of a police cruiser and drive away.
Police said James Russo, 25, of Laconia, who turned himself in yesterday afternoon, had been placed unrestrained in the rear of the police cruiser because he had what appeared to be a malformation of his left hand, making it difficult to put handcuffs on him.
“While the officer was following up with the other three occupants of the vehicle, Russo managed to get into the front seat and drove off at a high rate of speed,” said Lt. Barry Tanner of the Holderness Police Department.
He said Russo drove north from the arrest scene on Route 175, near Holderness School, to Pulsifer Hill Road in Campton, where he abandoned the police cruiser after getting it stuck and fled on foot.
New Hampshire State Police and police officers from Campton, Plymouth, Plymouth State University and Thornton responded to the scene of the 11:50 p.m. incident.
They searched the area for several hours with a state police dog, but did not find Russo.
At about 3:25 p.m. yesterday, Russo contacted the Holderness Police Department and turned himself in without incident. He was booked and was being held at the Grafton County Jail pending his arraignment in Plymouth District Court, where he will face charges of DWI and escape.
Tanner said he was not going to release the name of the arresting officer at this time.
He said the investigation is continuing and anticipates additional charges will be filed against Russo in connection with the incident.
The police cruiser suffered only minor damage in the incident, losing its front license plate and having its side panels and tires caked with mud.
Copyright 2009 Union Leader